Travel Guide

Toys that are More Than Just Fun & Games

Back to School Time: Toys to Get your Kids Excited for Learning

Back to School time is here (believe it or not) and it can be hard to transition from all that summer fun to the full days of school. As you shop for supplies, here are a few toy suggestions worth adding to your cart that will get your kids excited for learning.

Give your preschooler hours of entertainment with the LEGO DUPLO Deluxe Box of Fun. This set makes the perfect introduction to building, with pieces designed specifically for little hands that can be built by kids themselves. With 95 pieces of classic and special DUPLO bricks, this set can teach counting with the decorated number blocks and inspire role play with the DUPLO figures, opening up a world of imagination and creativity for your child. (Ages 1.5 to five, $49.99)

LEGO has also introduced a new line this year, LEGO Juniors. They are tailor-made to transition young builders from the larger DUPLO bricks to classic LEGO brick building. This easy to build set, LEGO Junior Batman: Defend the Batcave, includes modular pieces such as walls and archways for quick brick builds, a vehicle, and 3 mini-figures: Batman, Robin, and the Joker. Step-by-step storybook instructions and photo inspiration are included to get young builders started. As children go back to school or begin their education, these building experiences provide valuable benefits such as tactile and fine motor skill development, math and logic learning, as well as storytelling and role play. A perfect tool to bridge the gap between play time and fun time! (Ages 4+, $29.99)

Kids love being active and keeping their brains engaged also keeps them from getting bored. ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is an award-winning educational website for kids ages 2 to 6. Developed by teachers & learning experts, this site has over 5000 skill-building activities to provide 100's of hours of fun, so kids actually want to use it. The Step by Step Learning Path customizes the experience for each child, allowing them to build self-confidence by learning at their own pace. It can be accessed from computers and most mobile devices, anytime, anywhere. It's a 100% educational and safe online environment, with no advertising or links to other websites. Find out more about enrolling your child at ABCmouse.com. (Ages 2 to 6, $7.99 /month subscription, or $79.99 annually)

Becoming a global citizen is important and Oregon Scientific is a leader in creating global learning tools. The SmartGlobe Infinity opens up the world with the touch of the Smart Pen. Kids will learn history, fascinating facts and global knowledge, using the Bluetooth wireless talking Smart Pen to guide their experiences, with dozens of fun interactive games & challenges. You can constantly update it online, providing an ever current view of the world. (Ages 5+, $99)

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